ALBUQUERQUE — First-year UNM head coach Eric Olen faces a familiar opponent Tuesday night as the undefeated Lobos host UC Riverside in The Pit. The Highlanders were the last team to hand Olen a regular-season loss, beating his UC San Diego squad 85-81 in January. Like UNM, UCR enters 2-0 with a rebuilt roster and new coaching staff, led by guard Marqui Worthy (18.5 ppg) and forward Osiris Grady (18 ppg). The matchup will test the Lobos’ interior defense and rebounding, as Riverside brings more size and depth than UNM’s previous opponents. Olen’s team has excelled at forcing turnovers — 44 through two games — but has struggled defending the rim and maintaining defensive intensity in second halves. The game, a Quad 4 opportunity for UNM and Quad 2 for UCR, offers the Lobos their toughest early-season challenge.

ALBUQUERQUE — The UNM men’s basketball team used stifling defense to set the tone early against UT Arlington, defeating the Mavericks 74-56 in The Pit. Freshman forward Tomislav Buljan led the way with a team-high 17 points, including 13 after halftime, as the Lobos consistently fed him the ball inside. Senior Chris Howell helped facilitate the offense with five assists, while senior guard Deyton Albury added 15 points and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, marking his first double-digit performance in four games. UNM returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 11, when they host UC Riverside at The Pit.

ALBUQUERQUE — The UNM men’s basketball team looks to stay unbeaten when it hosts UT Arlington on Saturday at The Pit. It’s a rematch of a 2023 thriller decided by a Donovan Dent layup, though neither team returns a single player from that game. The Mavericks, picked fourth in the WAC, opened their season with a dominant 91–40 win over North Texas–Dallas, holding their opponent without a field goal for nearly 16 minutes. Preseason All-WAC forward Raysean Seamster led UTA with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while transfers Cash Chavis (Arkansas) and Tyran Mason (North Texas) also contributed. UNM, meanwhile, aims to improve its offensive execution while building on a strong defensive effort in its win against East Texas A&M on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with a ticket promotion offering free tickets for children 12 and under with the purchase of one adult ticket.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—In UNM’s season opener, the Lobos shifted their offensive focus from perimeter shooting to attacking the paint against East Texas A&M. The Lobos won the rebound count 43-39 and scored scored 38 points inside the paint. Freshman Uriah Tenette made a strong debut off the bench with 14 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Hall also chipped in 14 points while Tajavis Miller added 11 off the bench. UNM’s defense forced 21 turnovers and held ETA&M to 34% shooting. Olen emphasized the team’s defensive strength and expects offensive execution to improve. UNM next faces UT Arlington on Saturday at The Pit.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—The UNM men’s basketball team jumped out to a 16–2 lead over Northern Arizona in Thursday’s exhibition but cooled off en route to 64-54 win. Antonio Chol (20 points) and Jake Hall (12) led the Lobos, who shot 36% overall and 31% from three. Coach Eric Olen said the team “regressed” in shot selection and UNM struggled with turnovers and missed free throws. After dominating early defensively, UNM allowed NAU to shoot 45% in the second half. The Lobos will start the regular season next Wednesday at 7:00 pm against East Texas A&M.

PULLMAN, Washington—The Lobos opened the Eric Olen era with a 74–66 exhibition loss to Washington State, but Olen remained optimistic afterward, citing encouraging defensive stretches and valuable lineup experimentation. UNM led 38–37 at halftime after forcing 13 turnovers and closing the half on a 14-5 run, but the offense collapsed in the second half, hitting just 20% from the field and 13% from three as the Cougars pulled away. Despite the loss, Olen said the exhibition gave his team a chance to build chemistry and evaluate rotations ahead of the regular season.

UNM’s Defensive Identity—UNM head coach Eric Olen is bringing his signature fast-paced, space-and-pace offensive style to the Lobos — but it starts with defense. With 14 newcomers, the team has embraced a high-intensity, turnover-focused defensive identity that mirrors Olen’s 2024–25 UC San Diego squad, which ranked among the nation’s best in efficiency and steals. The Lobos are expected to at times run a disruptive matchup zone that blurs the lines between man and zone defense, designed to confuse opponents and fuel transition offense. Despite some fan concerns about a lack of traditional bigs, Olen emphasizes the team’s length and versatility across positions. The vision is clear: create chaos on defense, run the floor, and let it fly from deep